Anumber of months ago we were in the nation of Indonesia. We were about half way through a fairly extensive, busy ministry tour of some of the cities on the island of Sumatra. At the close of one the combined Church Gospel Events, we were all standing around outside waiting for our driver. It seemed we were waiting quite some time. At some point I said to the one of the Pastors “Is our driver ready?’ The Pastor said “He’s ready to go, he’s been waiting for you.” We all laughed at that point because we were waiting for the driver and the driver had been waiting for us!
This incident got me thinking about whether there are times when we think we are waiting for God to do something and in reality, it’s possible He’s waiting for us. Now Scripture is full of those exhortations for us to wait on the Lord. Many of us will know the scripture, ’They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength …” (Isaiah 40:31a). Jesus instructed the disciples to “Wait in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:14).
There are obviously times when it is right and appropriate to wait on God, for Him to move. There is a balance to God’s timing. I certainly don’t want to be seen to be promoting any sense of impatience with God and His ways in this message. Many times God is looking for us to spend time with Him, soaking in His Word and in His Presence. He is looking to build character into us. We need to be people who love to spend time with God and love Him with all of our hearts!
With some issues and at certain times, however, God is waiting for us to believe, to act, to dare to stand on His Word! I have been thinking about the Ethiopia Gospel Events which we took a step of faith to conduct recently. Some of the most incredible miracles took place. Hundreds made decisions for Christ. Blind eyes were opened by Jesus, deaf ears were unstopped, cripples walked, tumors dissolved miraculously, it was so awesome to see God move! We went into some dangerous and desperate places to bring the good news of the Gospel, and while God could have done all of those miracles Himself in those places, He was waiting for us to take that step of faith!
Now don’t misunderstand me, we sought God, we prayed, we stepped out with what we believed was the leading of the Holy Spirit, and as we did, God moved. He leads, we move, then He moves; a wonderful partnership with heaven! I will never forgot one service years ago, I was preaching in a Church in Michigan and just as I finish my message, the glory of God began to fill that sanctuary in such a wonderful way. Was God waiting for me to finish speaking? To be honest the whole thought of it is incredibly humbling and yet, I believe He was. What a privilege to work in partnership with Almighty God!
I am convinced that as we walk carefully, prayerfully and reverently before the Lord, there will be times in our Christian lives when God may actually be waiting for us! I know there have been times in my life where I had not seen God move. God had been waiting for me to ask Him for something bigger or greater and then He moved. There are times when God is daring us to believe Him; waiting for us to take Him at His Word; looking for an opportunity to break into our lives!
The great Evangelist and Revivalist Charles Finney believed when it came to revival, God waits for us. He believed there are things that we as a Church can do to see revival come. Things like fervent prayer, conducting and holding extended services, surrendering and yielding our lives to the work of the Holy Spirit.
When I first preached overseas, God led me to speak on Elijah calling down fire from heaven. As I preached that message and prayed my best prayer, God showed up in such a mighty way. Waves of His Spirit swept through that place for hours. I am convinced God was just waiting for someone to get out there on the edge and give Him the opening and the opportunity to demonstrate what He could do. God was waiting for me.
The truth is, God is waiting on the whole Church for the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Jesus sent his disciples out to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel …” (Mark 16:15a) He’s waiting for some of us to “Go!” Someone said two thirds of God is Go and I believe it! Now I’m not suggesting we step out in presumption, we need to step out with God’s leading; but I believe as we take steps of faith, as we are led of the Holy Spirit, we will see God show up. Sometimes He is waiting for us!
Today I want to encourage you, maybe you’ve been hearing God tell you to take a step of faith. Maybe today you are wondering whether you will see God’s hand move, if you take that step. Today I want to encourage you, faith grows when we exercise it, it’s like a muscle, the more we use it, the stronger it becomes. Today maybe you’re wondering whether you are waiting for God to move, it is possible He is waiting for you to move. If you believe that’s true, I encourage you to take that step of faith, as you do, I’m praying for you!
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